Grace of Joy

Grace of Joy...

Imperfection is perhaps the greatest gift I have been given.   A strange thought, perhaps.  Perfection would most surely produce pride.  Pride would absolutely lead to other varieties of arrogance and self-righteousness.  Therefore, I have deduced that it is much healthier to be imperfect.  It intensifies my need for grace and illuminates my vulnerability.  I make mistakes, sometimes big icky ones.  My insatiable desire to be comfortable, successful, and happy supersedes my desire to make other people comfortable, successful and happy.  Therefore, I have the ability to hurt people and probably do often without even knowing it.  Add to that my tendency to be self-conscious, people pleasing and insecure and I'm a whole lotta trouble.  If that was all I knew to be true, I would be terribly unhappy.  Here is where the good part begins.  Jesus came to earth and chose to die and pay the penalty for all of my poor choices. 

John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that He sent His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."

 He may have come a long time ago but His death paid for all my past, present, and future mistakes, including those made because of my insecurities.  I have chosen to accept His gift of forgiveness.   I have chosen to allow Jesus into my heart.  What does that mean?  It means I want Jesus to be my motivation for all my actions.  

1 Samuel 16:7b
"The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

I want desperately for my motivation to be simply to bring glory to God.  The best part?  When I continually screw up there is grace.  Realizing that grace will take more than a lifetime.  Each day I find new grace.   

Lamentations 3:22-23 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

None of my mistakes are outside of the grace of God.  Today I will accept that I am not perfect and strive to get to know this God that loves me more than I can fathom.